The fitness center, 4160 E. Grand River Ave., locked its doors to members and employees in the early afternoon.

A Total Fitness representative explained the closing on the gym's Facebook page before noon, saying the gym's owners could not work out a lease agreement with the building owners Wednesday.

"Yes, Total Fitness Center as you know it is closed permanently, what happens to from this point will be decided in court Monday Dec. 14 and (results announced after Mondays court date)," the post stated. "Obviously the hopeful outcome would be open at a new location sooner rather than later, but those are no longer in TR. Fitness Center LLC control, it has lost all rights to the equipment.

"TR. Fitness did not operate in anyway to deceive anyone; we operated in good faith to keep the doors open up until the point it was realized we were no longer going to be in that location. Everyone from TR. Fitness management and staff believed ... we would remain open, liabilities were paid, payroll, taxes, etc. and our records will show that no one did anything inappropriate with its funds and that it all (was) used to keep the doors open."

Tom Dukes, of Brighton, said knowing that Total Fitness sold memberships on Black Friday and even more before locking up Friday really upsets him. Dukes paid $260 in July to renew his membership for another year. Sarah Meyers, a member from Howell, said she had just paid $40 for a one-month membership.

"This is just bizarre," Dukes said. "It doesn't work that way. It's unfortunate that they've taken advantage of a lot of people."

John Scherston, of Howell, drove up to the location at around 5 p.m. to find the gym's doors locked and no one around to give him an explanation.

Scherston signed with Total Fitness for $270 two weeks ago after Gold's Gym closed. Gold's Gym, he said, reimbursed his $250 membership, but he didn't know if he would get a refund from Total Fitness.

"It's fraud," said Scherston, who heard of the closing from two friends. "I don't know who I would bring in, in small claims court.

"I guess it's the nature of gyms, but we can't be expected to accept that risk," he added.